Cuff-holder.



PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

J. L. FORBES.

CUFF HOLDER. 7 APPLICATION FILED S EPT.12.1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

AF InQen tor b9 a Attorney s I Jamar Witnesses THE NORRIS PETERS 50., wgsnmaralv, D. c.

No. 842,192. YPATENT-ED JAN. 29, 1907.

J. L. FORBES. I CUFF HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.12.1904.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

z 7 I RtfomeQs flmewflfbrbelg Inventor Witnesses THE "0km; PETERS co., WASHINGTON, u. c,

JAMES L. FORBES, OF PINE APPLE, ALABAMA.

CUFF-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 29, 1907.

Application filed September 12,1904. Serial No. 224,198.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES L. FORBES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pine Apple, in the county of Wilcox and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Cuff-Holder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cuff-holders, and has for its object to provide a simple and improved device of. this character capable of be ing readily connected and disconnected with respect to the cuff and the shirt-sleeve.

It is furthermore designed to effect an adjustment of the holder with respect to the shirt-sleeve, so as to accommodate the cuff to the length of the sleeve and to obviate looseness of the cuff, while at the same time permitting of the convenient disconnection of the holder from the shirt-sleeve.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating one form of the present invention applied to connect a cuff to a shirt-sleeve. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the form of holder shown in F igs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another form of holder. Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the application of the form shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another form of the holder. Fig. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the application thereof. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another form of the holder. Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the application of the form of holder shown in Fig. 8. Figs. 10 and 11 are perspective and sectional views, re spectively, of another form of the invention. Figs. 12 and 13 are perspective and sectional views, respectively, of still another form of the invention.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in each and every figure of the drawings. 1

Referring at first more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, it will here be noted that in one form of the device the wire is bent to produce a pair of substantially parallel stem members 1 and 2, which are rebent across their outer sides, as at 3 and 4, respectively, the rebent member 3 being extended to the rear of the holder with respect to the cufi and then bent inwardly, as at 5, to form a hook or latch-head. The rebent portion 4 is terminated intermediate of the ends of the rebent portion 3 and is soldered or otherwise secured thereto, as at 6, the two rebent portions constituting a spring latcharm a.

At their rear ends the stem members 1 and 2 are rebent upon their outer sides, as at 7 and 8, and then bent rearwardly between the terminating at its rear end in a comparatively small loop or eye 10, constituting a keeper for the reception of the free extremity of t e spring latch-arm, the portions 7, 8, and 9 constituting a cuff-engaging element. The two stem members 1 and 2 are correspondingiy bent into zigzag form, so as to form ratchet stem members, with comparatively leading rearwardly and the comparatively longer shoulders or long wall members 12 leading forwardly, the short wall members being diverged away from the cuffeengaging element formed by the portions 7, 8, and 9 and the longer wall members being converged.

It will here be noted that the stem members 1 and 2 are separated by a longitudinal and the opposite extremities of the stem members are spread or flared, so as to produce an opening at each end of the recess.

The application of the form of holder just described will be understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, wherein a portion of the shirtsleeve has been shown at 13, having the usual wristband 14 and a detachable cuff 15 of the link type and provided with a button 16, connecting the buttonholo-tab 17 at one edge of the cuff with the buttonhole at the opposite edge thereof. The holder is placed within the cuff between the free edges thereof, with the cross-bar 18 of the link cuff-button 19 received between the latch-arm a and the stem members 1 and 2 of the holder, the tab 17 being received between the tongue 9 and the rebent portions 7 and 8 of the stem members, the free rear end of the latch-arm extending across the outer side of the tab and engaged with the eye or keeper 10 in rear of the tab, whereby the latter is embraced by portions of the holder, which is thus connected to the cuff in a simple and effective manner. When thus applied, the ratchet portions 7 and 8, so as to form a tongue 9,

abrupt shoulders or short wall members 11 interspace constituting a longitudinal recess stem members of the holder are disposed longitudinally within the cuff between the free edges thereof, and when the cufl is slipped over the shirt-sleeve the sleeve-button 20,

will be received into the recess between the stem members through the rear open end of the recess, and by reason of the disposition of the shoulders upon the ratchet stem members the latter will readily slip past the shank of the sleeve-button until the cuff has been adjusted to the proper length, whereupon the cuff will. be held against accidental movement in either direction, particularly in an outer direction by reason of the abrupt shoulders 11 engaging across the rear side of the shank of the sieevebutton.

It will of course be understood that the device is formed of spring-wire, and therefore all of the parts of the holder are elastic, so as to snugly grip the tab 17 and also to grip the sleeve-button.

When placing the cuff in position, the forefinger is introduced into the rear open end of the recess of the stem, so as to spread the stem members, and therebyfaciitate the entrance of the sleeve-button 20 into the recess between the stem members, and in removing the cuff the forefinger is introduced into either open end of the recess, so as to spread the stem members and reduce their grip upon the sleeve button to permit of the ready removal of the cuff.

It will here be explained that the openended recess in the stem of the present device is a very important feature of this inventi on, for the reason that it permits of the stem members being spread throughout their entire lengths by the introduction of a finger into either end of the recess, so as to release the stem from the sleeve-button 20, even though the latter be located adjacent that end of the stem opposite the end to which the finger is applied for spreading the stem members. Moreover, by having the rccess open at opposite ends the button may be introduced into the recess and removed therefrom at either end of the device.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, another form of holder has the spaced ratchet stem members 21 and 22, as hereinbefore described, said stem members being rebent across the outer sides thereof and soldered or otherwise rigidly connected, so as to form a spring latcharm 23, extending the entire length of the member, with its free end bent into a hook or projection 24, directed laterally outward from the latch-arm. The other ends of the stem members are rebent, as at 25 and 26, and then extended rearwardly to form a tongue 27, lying at the outer side of the latch 23, the extremity of the tongue portion 27 being bowed outwardly to form a spring eye or keeper 28 for the reception of the hook or projection 24 of the latch-arm, the portions 25, 26, and 27 constituting a cuff-engaging element. This form of the device is applied as shown in Fig. 5, wherein the buttonholetab 29 of the cuff 30 is received between the tongue 27 and the rebent portions 25 and 26, the free end of the latch-arm 23 being engaged with the keeper 28 in rear of the tab, thereby to snugly embrace the latter and connect the holder to the cuff.

Another form of the holder, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, includes spaced ratchet stem members 31 and 32, having their forwardends rebent to form a tongue 33, extending for only a portion of the length of the stem and constituting a hook to engage the crossbar 34 of a link cufibutton, as in Fig. 7. At the opposite end of the holder the stem members are rebent, as at 35 and 36, and then extended rearwardly to form a spring-tongue 37, terminating in a hook 38. When applied to a cuff, (indicated at 39 in Fig. 7,) the buttonhole-tab is embraced between the tongue 37 and ti e rebent portions 35 and 36 of the stem, tie liookecl terminal 38 of the tongue fitting around tlie rear edge of the tab and the tongue 33 engaging ti e link 34 of the cuff-button, whereby ti e l: older is connected at opposite ends to tie cuff with the recessed stem in position for engagement with a sleeve-button, as l'rereinbefore described.

The form of the device shown in Figs. 8 and 9 includes spaced ratchet stem members 41 and 42, the forward ends of which are rebent, as at 43 and 44, and then bent inwardly and forwardly to produce looped keepers 45 and 46 and a tongue 47, projected forwardly between the rebent portions 43 and 44. The other ends of the stem members 41 and 42 are rebent and soldered or otherwise connected to form a latch 48, the ends of the rebent portions being spread and formed into hooked fork-terminals 49 and 50, which are designed to be snapped into the keeper-loops 45 and 46. In applying this form the tongue 47 is introduced forwardly from the inner side of the cuff 51 through the two rear buttonholes of the cuff, with a portion of the cuff clamped between the tongue 47 and the rebent portions 43 and 44, and then the fork-terminals 49 and 50 of the latcharm 48 are engaged with the looped keepers 45 and 46, so as to project through the buttonhole, and thereby interlock the holder with the cuff.

A still further modification of the invention has been shown in Figs. 10 and 11, particularly designed for round ends, and includes spaced ratchet stem members 59 and 60, which are rebent, as at 61 and 62, and then bent outwardly and forwardly to form a shank 63, upon which is carried any appropriate ornamental button 64 to be introduced through the forward buttonholes of a cuff 65. (Shown in Fig. 11.) The outer ends of the stem members are rebent to form a spring latch-arm 66 to be introduced through the rear buttonholes of the cuff and then have its free extremity snapped beneath the button as a keeper, whereby the cuff is embraced between the stem members and the latch 66 with the stem members in position for en gagement with the sleeve-button.

Another modification of the holder, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, is provided with the spaced ratchet stem members 67 and 68, which are rebent, as at 69 and 70, and then bent forwardly to form a tongue 71, there being a button 72 rigidly secured at the points of connection between the rebent portions 69 and 70 and the tongue 71. The other ends of the stem members are rebent and soldered or otherwise connected to form a spring latch-arm 73, having its forward free end terminally hooked, as at 74,-to snap beneath the button 72 of the keeper. The application of this form is shown in Fig. 13, wherein the tongue 71 and the button 72 are passed through the rear buttonholes of the cuff 75, so as to grip the latter between the tongue and the rebent portions 69 and 70, the latch 73 having its hooked extremity 74 snapped through the buttonhole and into engagement with the under side of the button 72, whereby the holder is rigidly connected'to the cuff in position for engagement with a sleeve-button.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that each form of the device includes the spaced ratchet stem members constituting a recessed stem with the recess open at opposite ends and the stem members capable of being sprung apart by the introduction of a finger into either end of the recess for the purpose of facilitating the engagement and disengagement of the ratchet stem members with a sleeve button. In addition each form has portions to embrace and clamp upon the cuff in a manner to effectually connect the device to the cuff without damage thereto and capable of being readily disconnected from the cuff whenever desired. Furthermore, by reason of the length of the stem portion of the device it may be shifted longitudinally upon the sleeve-button, so as to accommodate the cuff to the length of the sleeve.

In each embodiment of the present invention the wire portions which form the ratchet stem members are bent or kinked to produce relatively long ratchet wall portions b, converging away from the cufi-engaging elements and alternating with. shorter and more abrupt wall portions 0, diverging away from the cuff-engaging element. By this arrangement the cuff-holder may be conveniently slipped rearwardly across the shank of a sleeve button to adjust the cuff to the desired position, while the short walls 6 form comparatively abrupt shoulders to prevent accidental slipping of the cuff-holder forwardly across the stem of the button. It will also be noted that the ratchet stem members are unconnected at their ends, and therefore are free to be spread by the introduction of a finger between said ends to release the grip of the ratchet stem members upon the shank of the sleeve-button whenever it is desired to guideway for the reception of the shank of the sleeve-button and mutually connected between their ends, and means carried by the holder between its ends for connection with a cuff, the said stem members at each end of the device being diverged outwardly and unconnected to permit 'spreading of the stem members by the intrcduction of the thumb and a finger lnto the opposite ends of the guideway.

2. A cuff-holder comprising a pair of substantially parallel ratchet stern members separated by an open ended interspace forming a guideway for the reception of the shank of a sleeve-button, the opposite ends of each stem member being rebent across the top thereof, the corresponding rebent portions at each end of the device being connected at points inwardly from the respective ends of the holder, one pair of said connected ends being formed into a cufhengaging element, and each pair of stem ends at opposite ends of the device being diverged outwardly and unconnected to permit spreading of the stem members by the introduction of a thumb and finger into the opposite ends of the guideway.

3. A cuff-holder comprising a pair of substantially parallel ratchet stem members separated by an open-ended longitudinal interspace forming a guideway for the reception of the shank of a sleeve-button, each stem member having its ends rebent across the same, corresponding rebent end portions at one end of the holder being connected at a point inwardly from the adjacent end of the device and formed into a cuff-engaging I element, the rebent ends at the other end of the holder being connected at a point inwardly from the adjacent end of the holder and formed into a spring latch-arm for engagement with the cuif-engaging element, the ends of the stem members at opposite ends of the device being diverged outwardly and unconnected to permit spreading of the stem members by the introduction of a thumb and finger into the open ends of the guideway.

4. A cuff-holder comprising a pair of spaced ratchet stem members having alternating long and short wall members, and a curl-engaging element carried thereby, the long ratchet-Walls being converged away from the cuff-engaging element, 'and the short walls being setat greater obtuse angles than the long walls and diverged away from the cuff-engaging element.

5. A cuff-holder comprising a pair of ratchet stem members having alternating long and short Wall portions, said ratchet stem members being separated by a longitudinal interspace which is open at opposite ends of the cuff-holder and forms a guideway for the reception of the shank of a sleevebutton, and a cuff-engaging element carried by the stem members betn een the ends of the holder and forming a connection between the members, the long Walls of the ratchet members being converged away from the cuff-engaging element and the short walls being set at greater obtuse angles than the long walls and diverged away from the cuff-engaging element, and the stem members at each end of the holder being unconnected and diverged outwardly for the reception of a thumb and finger into the open ends of the guideway to permit spreading of the stem. members.

6. A cuff-holder comprising a pair of substantially parallel ratchet stem members separated by an open-ended longitudinal interspace forming a guideway for the reception of the shank of a sleeve-button, the ends of each stem member being rebent across the top thereof, the rebent portions at one end of the holder being again rebent outwardly between one another and connected to form a tongue, said tongue being provided with an eye, the rebent portions of the stem mem bers at the other end of the holder being connected at a point inwardly from tlie adjacent end of the holder and formed into a springarm terminating at its free end in a hook disposed for engagement with the eye, the ends of the stem members at opposite ends of the device beingdiverged outwardly and unconnected to permit spreading of the stem members by the introduction of a thumb and finger into the open ends of the guideway.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aitiXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES L. FORBES.

Witnesses:

W. A MELTON, A. C. LUCKIE. 

